Church of England Devon Magazine
Good News from the Diocese of Exeter
December 2016
A helping hand at Christmas
As thoughts turn to Christmas, to gifts, parties and meals with family and friends, it can be easy to forget those in need, who may have no-one special to share it with, nowhere to go and no special food to enjoy.
That’s why the work of church projects around the diocese is so important at this time, as they work, not only to keep people warm, but to help them experience some Christmas joy.
One such project is The Living Room, which has been operating in St Mary Magdalene Church in Torquay for over five years.
Every week the church doors are flung open on Wednesdays and Fridays and bacon rolls, homemade cakes and coffee is served to those who come. Some have addictions, some are homeless and some are retired and lonely, but all find a warm, non-judgemental welcome. It is a place where friendships are formed and where people are around with a listening ear who can point people towards help, if they ask for it?
For the last three years, The Living Room has run an event called Christmas in a Bap offering the contents of a roast dinner in a bun, and due to popular demand it will be repeated this year on Friday 16 December.
Kitchen Leader Petrina Jones, a former drug addict who was helped herself through the centre, is enthusiastic about the Christmas celebration and said: “Last year we gave out presents too and had live music. It is a really special morning.”
She adds: “As Christians we can show God’s love through our actions rather than just our words.”
And that is why they are all looking forward to Christmas in a Bap as they show God’s love and celebrate Christmas with all who come.
Image: Customers in The Living Room at Christmas
Readers celebrate 150 years
The Bishop of Crediton, the Rt Rev Sarah Mullally presided at a special service inExeter Cathedral to celebrate 150 years of Reader ministry in our diocese.
Dr Alan Wakely, Secretary of the Central Readers’ Council, preached at the serviceand 13 new Readerswere admitted and licensed. Another eight were licensed following their probationary year and three others were licensed following transfer from other dioceses.
The service marked the culmination of a year of events including a special service in London and a celebration at the annual Readers’ conference in Torquay.
Bishop Sarah said: “It was wonderful to be able to celebrate 150 years of reader ministry and admit and license 24 readers. In a full cathedral wegave thanks for their ministry and contribution to the Church in Devon.”
Image: Readers outside the Cathedral
Getting Real in Advent
It’s not too late to get your Real Advent calendar from the Meaningful Chocolate Company. As well as the 24 Fairtrade chocolates, this year’s version includes the Christmas story booklet illustrated by award winning artist Alida Massari and includes activities and challenges.
Alan Titchmarsh said: “The Real Advent Calendar is a great idea. Not only does it raise money for good causes and is made from Fairtrade Chocolate but is also tells the Christmas story.”
Visit
Image: Real Advent Calendar advert
2017 diocesan calendar out now
The 2017 Diocese of Exeter calendar includes some great photos and stories from around the diocese as well as the annual report. Two copies have been sent to every parish but there are a few left. If you would like to receive a free copy, contact Publications Officer Nicky Davies by email r call on 01392 294915.
Image: Diocesan calendar and yearbook cover
University calling
A former student at Exeter University, who got great support from the chaplaincy during her studies, has now become a chaplain herself at the same university.
Rev Hannah Alderson said: “I was 19 when I came to the university at Exeter. I was unsure in my Christian identity and found the university chapel in my second year. I found it to be a warm and loving place and the chaplaincy helped to bring me on in my faith journey. It was very influential in my vocation and I am really glad to be able to offer that same support.”
And Hannah even got married in the Mary Harris Chapel, as it had come to mean so much to her.
She now has a young son and has moved back to Exeter from Bridgwater in the Diocese of Bath and Wells where she was a young vocations adviser. She is based at the St Luke’s Chapel as there are chapels on both campuses.
Of the chapel she said: “This is a place of welcome for students, staff and others and I want to keep that going, to retain a holy space for anybody.”
And with that in mind, Hannah is busy preparing for Christmas. A Carol service is being planned and she said: “I am particularly looking forward to putting up the tree and decorations in the Chapel. I am hoping to do this with some students and a glass of mulled wine to bring in the Christmas cheer.”
Hannah also combines her chaplaincy role with that of diocesan Vocations Development Officer and said: “I imagined I might do something alongside parish ministry but when this came up I knew that God was preparing me for this.”
Hannah adds: “I want to encourage all the church communities in the diocese to be vocational communities, where vocation is talked about, and if there is any sense of God calling, we can help you with that.”
And all are welcome in the quiet space offered in the chapel. Hannah said: “This is a multi-faith chaplaincy and we are very much open to people of all faiths.”
Contact Hannah on 01392 724804 or for details visit
Image: Hannah Alderson
Messengers of God’s love
You may recall a song written by the Fisher folk which includes the line “And all creation’s straining on tiptoe just to see, the sons of God, come into their own.” How often do we see children straining on tiptoe to get the best view? To see the Christmas tree lights hanging across the high street or Father Christmas. As adults we have often lost that sense of anticipation and wonder which we see in children at Christmas as they wait.
Well, the Christmas lights have gone up and the Christmas Markets are open and as Christmas arrives for the world the church goes into a time of waiting. We don’t like to wait and maybe that is why we have lost that sense of anticipation. We are so used to reducing waiting because we see so little value in it.
However, waiting is not a passive act. Take for example during pregnancy where waiting is anything but inactive it is nurturing, it is full of hope and has value in its own right and it is anything but passive.
As we wait to celebrate again Emmanuel - God with us - we wait for that day when we will see his kingdom come in full. In celebrating what happened in the past in the birth of Christ, we hope for a future when death and suffering are no more. But for now this hope breaks into our present and calls us to be Christ to others in the world.
We see the face of Christ in the work of those who will be running food banks and soup kitchens, not just at Christmas but throughout the year, such as The Living Room project on page 1. We see the face of Christ in those providing shelter and housing not just at Christmas but all year round. We see the face of Christ in those who are welcoming the refugee not just in this season but throughout the year. We should with anticipation look for signs of God’s kingdom in our midst.
So let us actively wait reaching out to the hungry, the imprisoned, the homeless, the refugee, the naked, the sick and all those whom Jesus longs to touch. To become messengers of God’s love ‘straining on tiptoe just to see, the sons of God, come into their own’.
Rt Rev Sarah Mullally, Bishop of Crediton
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